'I didn't want to go.' - £1.5m striker regrets Birmingham City move
A former player has revealed their regret at joining Birmingham City.
Former Birmingham City striker Erik Huseklepp said that he regrets joining the club in 2012.
Norwegian forward Huseklepp joined Blues on loan in February 2012. Portsmouth were in administration at the time and needed to move him on to help with their financial situation.
Huseklepp was a fan favourite at Fratton Park and had joined for a reported £1.5m from Bari in the summer. He had scored six goals in 28 games up until that point, and Birmingham brought him in to complement their attack, which consisted of Marlon King, Adam Rooney and Nikola Zigic.
Speaking about his move to the Midlands, he said to The News: "I regret leaving for Birmingham, I would have performed better had I stayed at Pompey.
‘I didn’t want to go there, but when the manager (Michael Appleton) said I should leave, it made it easy for me.
‘I went into the manager’s office and he told me Birmingham wanted me on loan, but I really hoped he would then say “But I want you to stay”. Had I the chance, I would have stayed at Pompey.
‘Appleton was the reason I left - and Birmingham didn’t go too well. I scored twice and some games it went okay, but I didn’t really get the same rhythm I had at Pompey."
Huseklepp went on to play 11 games for Birmingham City and scored on his debut against Nottingham Forest. He also scored against Cardiff City, but made just four starts from 14 games.
Birmingham lost to Blackpool in the Championship play-offs that season, losing 3-2 on aggregate. Huseklepp was not part of the match day squad in the home or away leg and he would end up leaving England behind.
Reflecting on his time at St Andrew’s, he said: “I didn’t play as well as I hoped I would, I was not too happy with my performances at Birmingham, I can admit that. I was a lot more satisfied with the road I was starting on with Pompey.
‘At Birmingham you felt there was more than one club in the city and the atmosphere in the games was not as good as Pompey. I have to be honest.
"Pompey was a much better place for me than Birmingham."